Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Villa close in on Robert Pires signing
Tuesday 16th November 2010, 2:00PM GMT.
Villa boss Gerard Houllier has ruled out a January swoop for Michael Owen – but will sign former Arsenal star Robert Pires.
The manager had previously suggested he would be interested in bringing the Manchester United forward he managed at Liverpool to Villa Park but has now, when asked if he would try to sign Owen in January, dismissed talk of a move.
He said: “No. In terms of strikers, Emile Heskey and John Carew will come back. There is no point.”
But Houllier, who has also recently welcomed back Gabby Agbonlahor from a six-week lay-off, did confirm he will be going into the transfer market.
He said: “We definitely need to sign one or two players in January.”
And one man who is already on his way to the Midlands is Pires.
The World Cup winner will sign a short-term deal and could be included in Villa’s squad to face Blackburn this weekend.
The 37-year-old has been a free agent since his release from Spanish club Villarreal in July and has been recently training with the Gunners to stay fit.
Pires, part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ team of 2003-04, has recently been linked with Championship clubs QPR and Cardiff and was a target for non-league Crawley Town.
A short-term move suits both parties with Pires eager to get back into the game and Villa light on midfielders with experience at present.
Their four first-choice central midfielders, skipper Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell and Fabian Delph are all currently sidelined through injury, so it was left to young duo Barry Bannan and Jonathan Hogg to man the midfield in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
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